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Technology Standards

Technology standards are the shared technical rules that let products and systems work together, stay safe, and be measured the same way. They are written by government bodies, industry groups, and international organizations, and they often shape laws, contracts, and purchasing.

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September 28last updated

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Topics in Technology Standards

Writing and connecting

Standards Development covers how standards are created and adopted, and Interoperability covers how systems and services connect and exchange information.

All Articles on Technology Standards

How the Government Champions International Standards for U.S. Economic Power

From the smartphone in your pocket to the safety features in your car and the quality of the air you breathe, agreed-upon rules ensure…

39 Min Read

How NIST Builds Rules: An Inside Look at Standards Development

Every time you use GPS navigation, make an online purchase, or trust that a skyscraper won't collapse in an earthquake, you're relying on an…

28 Min Read

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework: A Guide for U.S. Businesses

The National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework is a voluntary set of guidelines, standards, and best practices designed to help any organization—regardless…

37 Min Read

The History of NIST: The National Institute of Standards and Technology

Your smartphone knows the time down to a billionth of a second. Your credit card transactions are protected by codes that would take supercomputers…

39 Min Read

NIST: The Agency That Keeps America Running

When your car's gas tank holds exactly one gallon, when your smartphone knows precisely where you are, when your medical test results are accurate—all…

29 Min Read

What the Department of Commerce Does

The Department of Commerce is charged with promoting economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in the United States.

42 Min Read